Huntington's Problem with Hispanics

On my way to Mexico two weeks ago, I picked up a copy of Foreign Policy magazine in a newsstand at Logan. Its cover article by Samuel P. Huntington -- known to us IR majors for his "Clash of Civilizations" -- dealt with the growth of the Hispanic population in the United States. This is an issue that is not commonly discussed, at least in mainstream media. In fact, if all you do is watch TV, you would never know that Hispanics have surpassed African Americans as the US's largest minority. And, given the decidedly higher birth rates of Hispanics, this country is quietly undergoing a fundamental demographic change that will effectively alter its political and social landscape.

Huntington's controversial article, entitled "The Hispanic Challenge" is thoughtful but flawed. Its main premise is that Latin American immigrants (and particularly Mexican ones), are essentially different from other immigrants and that their flagrant failure to assimilate to the Anglo-Protestant culture is a serious threat for the American nation. Huntington thinks that there will be an inevitable division between Hispanics and Anglos and that this division will change the very nature of the United States. In short, Huntington argues that America's traditional identity is under attack by a wave of Hispanic immigrants who are different because they do not assimilate.

I disagree with Huntington on all counts. Huntington gives good reasons why Mexican immigrants are marginally different from say, Italians or Irish immigrants -- Mexico's scale, regional concentration, and contiguity to the U.S. undoubtedly make this immigration wave distinct. However, Mexicans are not unlike other immigrants in the most important way: they came to this country in search for a better life and a better future for their children. That, to me at least, is the beauty of the immigration phenomenon in this country. The fact that Huntington ignores Mexican American's common bond with the rest of this country is sad.

In terms of cultural assimilation, Huntington confuses Mexican-American's pride in their values with an outright rejection of American culture and ideals. He faults Mexican American families for having a strong desire to preserve their linguistic and cultural heritage. Huntington goes as far as to suggest that Mexican American communities do not consider hard work and education as tools for personal development. Mexican Americans may not have the best jobs out there, but to say that they do not consider hard work as a "way to material prosperity" is false and irresponsible. These people literally risk their very lives in hopes of getting even the most menial jobs.

And finally, in terms of the risk to American identity posed by Mexican immigrants, I think Huntington totally exaggerates what he perceives as an imminent clash between Anglos and Hispanics. In his article Huntington says, "Will the United States remain a country with a single national language and a core Anglo-Protestant culture? By ignoring this question, Americans acquiesce to their eventual transformation into two peoples with two cultures (Anglo and Hispanic) and two languages (English and Spanish)." In other words, the United States would turn into a sort of Yugoslavia or Iraq. Huntington thinks there are "irreconcilable differences" between Hispanics and Anglos and that the result of higher fertility rates and increased migration will lead to an inevitable division within the United States.

One only needs to visit San Antonio, Texas to understand why Huntington is wrong. I lived in that city for three years and I can assure you that it is a great example of how Anglos and Hispanics can live together perfectly fine, despite what Huntington calls "irreconcilable differences" and without threatening the identity of America. Hispanics here hold strongly to their values, language, and culture, yet, if you questioned the commitment of Hispanics in San Antonio to their country (the United States) you would surely infuriate them. Mexican Americans, as all other immigrants who have come to this country, are eternally grateful for the opportunity this land granted them. They will never forget that.

Yes, there is an enormous presence of Hispanics in that city, and yes, Spanish is spoken almost everywhere. The coexistence of American and Mexican culture in San Antonio gives this city its unique character and its charm. San Antonio is what Huntington would call a "Hispanic enclave." But is that threatening? Maybe to Huntington, but certainly not to the tens of thousands of Anglos who live there and are well acquainted with Mexican traditions and Spanish words, not to mention Mexican food.

Mexican Americans have a rich culture and a long history worth preserving. They may come in larger numbers than other immigrants, but even if you stopped immigration today, the growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. cannot be contained. The die has already been cast. Instead of being paranoid about the "Hispanic challenge," why not focus on making this country a better place for all the people who live here?

Rodrigo De Haro is a senior majoring in International Relations. He can be reached at deharo@tuftsdaily.com.